I also fashioned a DIY parking garage for his toy cars (and planes, trains, etc.)
We also colored Easter Eggs with food coloring (so I wouldn't be worried if he ingested any of it), a failed Baking Soda Vinegar Food Coloring Pinstrocity, and a pretty cute Place-Mat with my new laminating machine -- scanned pages from Green Eggs and Ham and laminated them.
So much has happened in the last month, it feels like I must have missed a month's blog post! But no, he's just exploded with growing up! Here are some of the new things he can do:
Read letters and numbers
Sleep in a big boy bed!
Mommy was a little weepy as Dad took off the side of the crib. He hasn't fallen out yet, though this past week he has started getting himself in the morning (Mommy's ambivalent about this -- it means I don't have to get up to get him, but he gets up before the Bunny, and that's no ok).
Throw a spectacular tantrum, including angry (not just whiny) "NO!!'s.
This is the main reason we don't have a lot of new pictures of this cute kiddo -- every time I grab the camera he begs to hold it, so all the pictures end up being of tantrums.
Tell us when it's "safe" to cross the street. He makes sure there's a "guy" on the light before we cross.
Tell us when snacks are for Ro-Ro and not Gipper.
We were going through a phase when every snack we had was very bad for the dog -- grapes, raisins, hummus (with garlic), etc., so we were being very strict about how and where he could eat the snack, and telling him over and over that the snack was not for Gipper, just for Ro-Ro. He clearly took it to heart.
Tell stories (The one where his hat blew off under the car and mommy said "OH SHOOT!" and The one where Gipper barked at the door because she heard a baby outside.)
Negotiate
He has this great tone of voice when he's asking for more, or telling someone else that THEY need more. It's sort of like, "Hang on. um, I thought we talked about there's being more? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told there was going to be more. Right? I mean, you see how there needs to be more, right?" Sort of a little Larry David. This clip doesn't do it justice, but it's close:
Pee on the potty before sleeping, and tell us when he's pooping.
As long as it's part of the routine, he's a pro at the potty. We pee before naps and bedtime, and daycare said they would start putting him on the potty at school.
Play on his own
I'm not exactly sure what this is. A catwalk? A joint session of Congress?
Share (he makes the sign for "sorry" when he says "share", which makes me think the daycare taught him that one).
Go up to the top of the jungle gym by himself
(ok, daddy was probably letting him do this before, but mommy has only just become "ok with it")
Pretend
He really likes to play "na night", where he climbs into our bed, pulls up the blankets, and makes us tuck him into bed. He also pretends Mommy and Daddy are trains or horses and rides us around. He pretends to nurse his Cabbage Patch Doll, Max.
Sing songs (current favorites: Wheels on the Bus, Texas, Oh Mr Sun, ABCs)
Use complete sentences (where daddy go? Here it are! Daddy at work.") Sometimes these sentences are in Pirate Speak ("It be heavy.")
He's also very polite, saying Thank You, You're welcome, and Excuse Me (sometimes without prompting).
Other things that happened this month ...
We said goodbye to Auntie Stephanie, who moved back to Texas. We had a great dinner at our favorite Mexican place and she celebrated some final Northeast Snow.
We had to go to backup daycare on Good Friday, which was a complete disaster. After he cried ALL MORNING, I went to get him and brought him back to my office to be my little helper. He was really excited to ride the subway though.
We celebrated Easter with Eggs, Ham, and chocolate covered things!
We've also started Babywearing to school! He likes to walk home, and it's a big pain to push the stroller with one hand and hold his hand with the other. So we've mastered the Back-Carry wrap on top of the coat. It also means Mommy has an awesome scarf after she drops him off.
All the more reason he deserved a baby-carrier for his birthday!
And finally, nursing. It's been weird, he goes a long time without asking for it. Like weeks. And sometimes he asks for it but then only snuggles with the boob. I wonder if it's over. I really wanted a picture of my nursing my official two-year-old, just to say I did it, but never even brought it up. It's a little sad.
We spent this past weekend visiting the grandparents and celebrating R's 2nd birthday!!! The whole day was themed around his new favorite thing - choo choo trains!!! (As well as other vehicular transports)
We started with a play date with Kate and Isaac, along with Aunties Jess and Katelyn. Lots of running and chasing, some showing off of toddler talents, and a few tantrums. A pretty good day.
Mom and dad even got to go out on a date for an hour or two!
On Sunday we met up with ALL the family for brunch at Martin's in Great Barrington. I chose it because they have breakfast all day, crayons on the table, and are on "Railroad" st (continuing our train theme). Breakfast was awesome and Ro even got his own Micky-shaped waffle (but don't tell my boss at Nickelodeon!)
R was excited to take a walk down railroad street, but was confused why it didn't have any "guys" -- the walk signals at traffic crossings.
After brunch we went to the fire station! Grampa Terry is the fire chief and showed us all the fire trucks!
We had to cut the visit short when there was a fire call!! Grampa jumped in the car and drove to the fire, and we all waited outside for the rest if the volunteer fire-fighters to arrive. We saw them drive away in the fire truck!
We went back to Grama and Grampa's house and opened presents. Lots of trains and books!
wooden train track set and trains from auntie Jess
wooden train cars and a Hess race car and tow truck, and some books from Gramma and Grampy.
a leap from tag reader, books and some matchbox cars from Gramma and Grampa. Also a high chair for Max!
blocks from Mrs. McMahon
a Norte dame football from daddy
a hand-made Baby Carrier from Mommy
Mommy was a little weepy at how grown-up he seemed today.
Then we had cake!!! Daddy was very excited to make the cake just like Grampa used to do for him. He even took the day off on Friday to finish frosting it!!!
By this time R was birthdayed out!
We packed up and hit the road with our new toys.
That night he was so excited to play with his new trains!
Mommy is not so good about writing things in a baby book, but as a child, loved reading the one Gramma had kept for her. A digital baby book can be updated with photos and videos without actually printing anything, and can be shared with everyone . . . even Gramma!
Rowan, Mommy, Daddy, and Gipper the pug live in Queens, New York. Daddy is an engineer and loves Notre Dame football and the Red Sox. Mommy works for Nickelodeon and loves to knit (when she has two hands free). Gipper the pug is taking her job as "nana" very seriously and likes to look after and sniff the baby. So far, baby Rowan loves to eat and poop and cry.
